Opposition parties ramped up their protests in Parliament on Wednesday, targeting the Centre’s handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The heated debate saw Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioning the government’s reluctance to engage in discussion, asking, ‘Have they become so weak?’ Her remarks came as the Lok Sabha adjourned within minutes amid loud protests from opposition benches.
Priyanka Gandhi didn’t hold back. ‘They are neither able to run the Parliament nor respond to Trump… We are only asking for a discussion. It is easy for them to resolve this,’ she told ANI. The government’s refusal to address the issue has fueled accusations of evading accountability, with opposition leaders demanding transparency.
DMK MP Kanimozhi echoed the sentiment, stating that discussing election reforms is critical for democracy. ‘We want a discussion about it in Parliament, but they are not allowing it,’ she said during the protests. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi went further, questioning the government’s hesitation. ‘The government should tell what it is afraid of. If there is no discussion in Parliament on the electoral process, where will it take place?’
Meanwhile, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju provided the government’s stance, clarifying that while discussions on other topics are welcome, the SIR process is under the Election Commission’s jurisdiction. ‘There cannot be a discussion on SIR because it is a process undertaken by a Constitutional body,’ he said, emphasizing that the government follows parliamentary rules.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) disclosed that no political parties had filed claims or objections regarding Bihar’s draft electoral rolls since August 1. However, 3,659 individual objections were recorded, alongside 19,186 new voter registrations. The ECI stressed that no names would be removed without a formal inquiry and fair consideration.
The political standoff has intensified, with the opposition INDIA bloc alleging that the SIR could lead to mass voter deletions. Protests have disrupted the Monsoon Session, highlighting the deepening rift between the government and opposition over electoral transparency.
The Lok Sabha’s repeated adjournments and the heated exchanges outside highlight the growing tensions. As opposition leaders continue to press for answers, the government’s refusal to debate the SIR process has only amplified criticism. Will this deadlock break, or will the protests escalate further? For now, Parliament remains a battleground.